STEM ECHS students create Día de los Muertos altar

For the second year in a row, STEM Early College High School is celebrating the lives of those who have passed.

Spanish students Benjamin Mora, Ariel Rodela, Aleksandr Strelnikov and Alexander Rodriguez decided to build a memorial altar in honor of the Mexican holiday “Día de los Muertos,” celebrated on Nov. 1 and 2.

Working together, the students built a three-layered altar to celebrate their loved ones with photographs, food, drinks and decorations to remember what they enjoyed in life.

“The students worked really hard, totally student-led, and they did a great job,” STEM ECHS Spanish Teacher Mary Zenk said. “One class did the marigolds, another did the papel picado and the other did the sugar skulls. They were very organized and did a fantastic job.”

The students placed the altar in the entrance of the school to encourage students and staff to participate in the project as well.

As the students designed altar boxes and sugar skulls, they said they were glad to have a reason to focus on the history and tradition of the holiday.

“It’s been a nice experience,” Ariel said. “It just really opened up our eyes to the traditions that are part of our heritage.”

Alexander added,” It really helped me appreciate Mexican culture as to why they do this and what it represents, which is to celebrate the lives of our passed loved ones.”